Magnetic catch



M. o. TEETQR 2,910,319 MAGNETIc cATcH Oct. 27, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 v Filed April 19, 1957 United States Patent O MAGNETIC CATCH Macy O. Teetor, Metaire, New Orleans, La.

Application April 19, 1957, Serial No. 653,894

22 Claims. (Cl. 292-2515) This invention relates to improvements in magnetic catches for cabinet doors and the like and more particularly to a novel magnet unit for use in such catches.

Magnetic door catches of various types have been suggested heretofore in which cooperating magnet and armature units are mounted in coacting positions on door and frame members. For example, in my prior Patents Nos. 2,508,305 and 2,690,348 I have shown one type of magnetic catch which is highly effective and which involves the movable mounting of one of the catch elements, i.e. either the magnetic element or the armature element, and the use of a spring operatively coacting with the movable catch element for normally urging it into retracted position inwardly of its supporting door or frame member.

The present invention is directed to still another improved magnetic catch including a movable magnet assembly having a unique design which results in enhanced magnetic holding power. Moreover, the magnet unit has a double-pole double-Plane construction which provideselfective operation in a plurality of mounted positions as will become clear from the subsequent description. In addition, the magnet unit of the present invention is particularly adapted for and has been specially designed to utilize a sintered ceramic magnet material such as the composite of barium and iron oxides available commercially under the trademark Indox. Magnet materials of this type have important advantages over metallic alloy magnets for many applications of permanent magnets such as in magnetic catches. For example, Indox magnets are lighter in weight than metallic alloy magnets, have certain Superior magnetic characteristics including high coercive force, are easily magnetized but difiicult to demagnetize, and are made from readily available non-critical raw materials, namely, barium carbonate and iron oxide. Moreover, the catch of the present invention is comparatively inexpensive but at the same time has extremely good holding power and is simple to manufacture and install.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved magnet assembly for use in magnetic catches.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved magnet unit for a magnetic catch utilizing the aforementioned magnet assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel permanent magnet assembly for a magnetic catch which is specially adapted for utilization of sintered ceramic magnet materials, eg. the composite of barium and iron oxides known commercially as Indox.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel magnetic catch unit having magnet pole faces eX- posed in two different planes so as to permit mounting of the unit in a plurality of operative positions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become evident from the subsequent detailed description 2 taken in conjuncton with the accompanying drawings, wheren:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing a catch comprising one specific embodment of the invention as mounted for use with a fiush type cabinet door;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the catch in use on cabinet having a lip door;

Fig. 3 is an inside elevational view as seen along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, i

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the same catch as mounted for use at the under side of a cabinet shelf;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the catch mounted as in Fig. 4, the view being inverted for the sake of convenience;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view, on an enlarged Scale, of the catch mounted as in Fig. 1 and with the cabinet door in open position;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but with the cabinet door in closed position;

Fig. 8 is a bottom view, on a reduced Scale, of the magnet unit as seen along the line 8 -8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is an end view, on a reduced scale, of the magnet unit as seen along the line 9-9 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified embodment of the invention;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. 10; and

Figs. 12 and 13 are transverse sectional views taken along the lines 12-12 and 13-13, respectively, of Fig. 10.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, one specific embodment of the invention comprises a twoway or dual acting magnet unit having two sets of magnetic pole faces which are so arranged that the magnet unit can be mounted in a plurality of different positions. For example, in Fig. 1 the magnet unit, designated generally at 20, has a pair of projecting pole pieces with pole faces 21 disposed for effective magnetic contact in one plane and a second set of projecting pole pieces with pole faces 22 arranged for magnetic contact in another plane at right angles to the first-mentioned plane. In this particular instance, the magnet unit 20, is secured to the inner face of a cabinet door frame portion 23 so that the pole faces 21 can coact with an armature unit in the form of a steel washer 24 secured to the inside of a cabinet door 26 of the flush type. In Figs. 2 and 3, the magnet unit 20 is shown as mounted in the same general fashion at the inside of a cabinet frame portion 27 having a lip type door 28. In this case, the armature unit 24 is carried on a` spacer block '29 which is in turn secured to the inside of the door 28 so that the pole faces 21 can coact with the armature 24 in the same general manner as in Fig. 1. In Fig. 4, a different mounting arrangement is shown wherein the magnet unit 20 is rigidly secured to the underside of a cabinet shelf 31 so that the pole faces 22 can coact with the armature unit 24 which is secured to the inside of the cabinet door, designated at 32. Thus, even before the structural and operational details of the magnet unit 20 are described, it will be seen that a highly compact and convenient multipurpose catch is provided by reason of the double set of pole faces 21 and 22 which are arranged for operation in two different Operating planes.

Referring now to Fig. 5, a detailed description of the catch construction will be given together with its mode of operation when mounted in the Fig. 4 position. The magnet unit 20 comprises a non-magnetic housing with a permanent magnet assembly movably retained therein for limited movement inwardly and outwardly with respect to the housing. The non-magnetic housing, e.g. brass, aluminum, or plastic, has a pair 'of oppostely disposed elongated sides 33 which are somewhat wider at one end (left-hand end as seen in Fig. 5) than at the other end (right-hand end as seen in Fig. 5). The sides 33 are formed at their wider ends with integral laterally extending mounting flanges 34, the latter being provided with elongated slots 36 so` that the magnet unit 20 can be mounted on a cabinet frame or shclf in desired adjusted position by means of 1a pair of screws 37. When the magnet unit 20 is thus mounted by means of the flanges 34, it will be understood that the narrow ends of the housing sides 33 are thereby disposed in offset or spaced relation from the mounting surface for the purpose hereinafter described. The non-magnetic housing also includes an elongated wall 38 which is joined to the edges of the sides 33 and curves downwardly at the narrow end of the housing to form an integral end wall portion 39. Thus, the housing as seen in Pig. 5 is closed by the sides 33 and the combined top and end wall 38-39 but is open along the bottom or lower side thereof and also at the left-hand end thereof. A rivet or cross-pin 41 (Fig. 9) eXtends transversely between the housing sides 33 adjacent the open end of the housing for strengthening and bracing the same.

Within the housing is disposed a permanent magnet assembly, indicated generally at 42, and comprising a laminar structure including a relatively thin rectangular wafer or plate-like magnet element 43 and a pair of thin rectangular soft steel pl'ates or pole pieces 44 at its opposite sides. The magnet element 43 has ra central aperture 46 and the pole pieces 44 are formed with inwardly extending depressed portions providing a pair of opposed integral bosses 47 extending into the opposite axial ends of the lapertnre 46 and coacting therewith for locating the magnet element and loosely retaining the same in assembled relation with the pole pieces. As seen at the left-hand side in Fig 5, the pole pieces 44 extend beyond the corresponding edge of the magnet element 43 and also project through the open end of the magnet housing thereby providing the pair of pole faces 22 heretofore mentioned. At the opposite or closed end of the magnet housing, the pole pieces 44 extend beyond the corresponding opposite edge of the magnet element 43 and then extend downwardly (as seen in Fig. 5) at right 'angles so as to project through the open bottom of the housing thereby providing the pole faces 21 which, `as heretofore pointed out, are disposed in a plane at right angles to the plane of the pole faces 22. As will be evident from Fig. 5, the bent portions of the pole pieces 44 have a gradual smooth curvature, particularly the outermost pole piece 44 which preferably has a curvature conforming closely to the curvature of the unitary top and end wall 38-39 of the housing.

`rFor retaining the magnet assembly 42 in the housing, I prefer to employ resilient means coacting between the honsing and the magnet assembly. Although any suitable resilient means may be employed, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention I employ a single spring means which is effective for resiliently urging the magnet assembly 42 inwardly of lits housing regardless of whether the pole faces 21 or the pole faces 22 are in use. Thus, I provide ran elongated coil spring 48 mounted on a supporting pin 49 and eXtending transversely between the housing sides 33 closely adjacent the right angle bend in the innermost pole piece 44. The outer periphery of the coil spring 48 engages both the horizontal and Vertical leg portions of the innerrnost pole piece 44, and since the coil spring is radially deflectable or displaceable in all directions it will be understood that the spring 48 thereby urges the magnet assembly 42 inwardly of the housing for 'all directions of movement of the magnet assembly 42 relative to the housing.

In the installation shown in Figs. 4 and 5 only the pole faces 22 are in use, and movement of the magnet assembly 42 is lengthwise of the housing, i.e. from left to right and parallel to the surface of the shelf 31 as seen in Fig. 5. In this particular installation, the mounting flanges 34 also serve as spacers for insuring proper action of the catch. Thus, the ears 34 project beyond the front edge of the shelf 31 and beyond the left-hand end of the magnet housing so that when the door 32 is in closed position it will abut the ears 34 so as to position the door in predetermined spaced relation from the end of the magnet housing. The armature 24 being secured to the door 32, 'as by a screw 51, in coacting relation with the pole pieces 44, it will be seen that when door 32 is closed the pole faces 22 will thereby be drawn into magnetic contact with the armature 24 so that the entire magnet assembly 42 is shifted bodily toward the door thereby fiexing the coil spring 48 to the left, 'as seen in full lines in Fig. 5. As a result, the door 32 is held in closed position by the resilient inward retracting effect of the distorted coil spring 48 in the same broad manner described in my aforementioned prior Patents Nos. 2.508,305 band 2,690,348. When the cabinet door 34 is opened, the magnet assembly 42 will Shift to the left to a limited degree until the coil spring 48 is substantially completely collapsed against the supporting pin 49 at which point further movement of the magnet assembly 42 ceases and the armature 24 is disengaged from the pole pieces 22 by continued opening movement of the door 32. Thereafter, the spring 48 causes the magnet assembly 42 to be retnacted to the right as viewed in Fig. 5 so `as to resume its normal retracted position as indioated in dotted lines. In this retracted position, the outermost pole piece 44 is in snug conforming contact with the top and end wall 38-39 of the housing.

Because of the unique magnetic characteristics of Indox, it is desirable that the magnet material be proportioned to provide a relatively large magnetic area and a relatively short magnetic length. For this reason, the generally rectangular wafer-like configuration of the magnet element 43 is highly desirable and the magnet element is preferably magnetized along an axis extending transversely or through the thickness of the water, i.e. in a Vertical direction as the element 43 is viewed in Fig. 5. Consequently, the magnet element 43 has a relatively large magnetic cross-sectional area extending along its exposed transverse edges, designated at 52 and 53. At the same time, the pole-to-pole distance or the dimension of the magnet element 43 in the direction of its magnetized axis is relatively small.

Referring now to Figs. 6 to 9, the operation of the catch will be described in connection with an installation of the type shown in Fig. 1 wherein only the pole faces 21 are operative. In Fig. 6 the condition of the magnet assembly 42 is shown when the door is open, the magnet being retained in snug retracted position within the interior of the housing by the action of the coil spring 48 in exactly the same manner as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. In Fig. 7, the position of the magnet assembly 42 is shown after the door 26 with its armature 24 has been moved into closed position. By reason of the attraction of the armature 24 for the pole faces 21, it will be seen that the right-hand end of the magnet assembly 42 has pivoted downwardly against the action of the coil spring 48 thereby displacing the latter and bringing the pole faces 21 into substantially full face contact with the armature 24. As before, the effect of the defiected coil spring 48 is to urge the magnet assembly inwardly of its hous'ing so that the door 26 is held in closed position by the resilient action of the spring and thereby insuring firm non-rattling operation when the cabinet door is closed. Obviously, when the door 26 is opened, the spring 48 will collapse against the supporting pin 49 so that magnetic engagement between the armature 24 and the pole faces 21 is disrupted and thereafter the magnet assembly 42 is promptly retracted into its Fig. 6 position. v One of the important and advantageous characteristics of sintered Ceramic magnet material such as Indox is the fact that as long as the pole pieces are in the magnetic field of the magnet element, it is not necessary that the pole pieces be in full surface contact With the magnet element. Consequently, even though the assembly of the magnet element 43 with its pole pieces 44 is relatively loose so that some slight spacing may occur between one or more of the pole pieces and the magnet element, for example, as at 54 in Fig. 7, nevertheless, the magnet assembly retains substantially its full effectiveness and the catch unit operates in an entirely satisfactory manner regardless of the mode of installation.

Because of the somewhat limited impact resistance of magnet materials of the sintered ceramic type such as Indox, it is important to provide means for protecting the magnet material against severe impact such as might be encountered when a cabinet door is slammed. In the F'igs. 4-5 installation scheme, the flanges 34 project beyond the open end of the magnet housing and beyond the pole faces 22 thereby functioning as an abutment means for the door 32 to insure a predetermined spaced relation between the armature and the magnet assembly so that the latter must move outwardly against the action of the spring 48 in order to make contact between the pole faces 22 and the armature 24. Thus, even if the door 32 is slammed with considerable force, the stop action of the flanges 34 prevents undesirableforceful impact of the armature 24 against the pole faces 22 of the magnet assembly. In the Fig. 7 installation, the offset construction of the sides 33 of the housing provides the desired spaced relation so that even when the door 26 is in its fully closed position, as seen in Fig. 7, the armature 24 cannot engage the magnet assembly until the latter has moved outwardly 'against the force of the spring 48 to bring the pole faces 21 into magnetic contact With the armature. Thus, regardless of the mode of installation of the magnet unit, the magnet assembly is fully protected against undesirable severe impact With the armature unit.

In Figs. 10-13 I have shown a modification of the magnet unit to permit the use of a straight bar spring linstead of the coil spring 48 used in the first embodiment. The non-magnetic housing is generally the same With a pair of sides 56 having laterally extending slotted mounting fianges 57 and an outer Wall 53 with a curved end portion 59. A pair of tabs 61 are punched inwardly from the sides 56 to serve as retainers for the magnet assembly which is designated generally at 62 and comprises a magnet element 63 sandwiched between a pair of pole plates 64 and 66. The magnet element 63 has a central aperture 67 and the pole pieces have inwardly depressed bosses 68 coacting With the magnet aperture as before. The pole plates 64 and 66 have the same overall configuration as previously described so as to provide a first pair of pole faces 69 'at the open end of the housing for coaction in one plane with an armature 71 and another pair of pole faces 72 at the open bottom of the housing for coaction with an armature 73 in a different plane at right angles to the first-mentioned plane. The spring means comprises a straight bar spring element 74 extending transversely of the housing between the pole plates 64 and 66 and engaging a slanting angular indentation or crease 76 formed at the bend in the pole plate 64. The ends of the spring 74 are seated in a pair of dimpled recesses 77 and 78 in the housing side walls 56, the recess 78 being provided with a hole 79 (Fig. ll) to permit insertion of the spring during assembly of the unit. As Will be evident, the spring 74 urges the magnet assembly 62 inwardly of the housing for both directions of movement so that the magnet unit has the same double pole-double plane action previously described.

Although the invention has been described with particular reference to certain specific structural embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that various modifications and equivalent structures may be resorted to .without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. For use in a magnetic catch unit including a nonmagnetic housing adapted to be mounted rigidly on a supporting structure, a permanent magnet assembly adapted to be movably contained in the housing for coaction With an armature unit, said assembly comprising a plate-like magnet element and a pair of plate-like pole pieces disposed in parallel relation at. opposite sides of said magnet element, said pole pieces extending beyond one edge of said magnet element and providing at the ends thereof a first pair of pole faces aligned in one plane for contact with an armature in one mounted position of the magnet unit, said pole pieces also extending beyond the opposite edge of said magnet element and providing at their opposite ends a second pair of pole faces for contact With an armature in another mounted position of the magnet unit, the portions of said pole pieces beyond said opposite edge of said magnet element being forrned With said second pair of pole faces aligned in another plane, said planes being at an angle to each other Whereby to facilitate utilization of one or the other of said pairs of pole faces in different mounted positions of the magnet unit.

2. The magnet assembly of claim 1 further characterized in that said one plane and said other plane are disposed substantially at right angles to each other.

3. The magnet assembly of claim 1 further characterized in that said magnet element comprises a relatively thin Wafer of a sintered ceramic material.

4. The magnet assembly of claim 3 further characterized in that said wafer is generally rectangular in Shape With its magnetized axis extending along the thickness of the Wafer whereby to provide a relatively large cross-sectional magnet area with a relatively short magnet length in the direction of said magnetized axis.

5. For use in a magnetic catch unit including a nonmagnetic housing adapted to be mounted rigidly on a supporting structure, a permanent magnet assembly adapted to be movably contained in t-he housing for coaction With an armature unit, said assembly comprising a plate-like magnet element, a pair of plate-like pole pieces disposed in parallel relation at opposite sides of said magnet element, and means coacting between the pole pieces and the magnet element for retaining the same in assembled relation, said pole pieces extending beyond one edge of said magnet element :and providing at the ends thereof a first pair of pole faces aligned in one plane for contact With an armature in one mounted position of the magnet unit, said pole pieces also extending beyond -the opposite edge of said magnet element and providing at their opposite ends a second pair of pole faces for contact With an armature in another mounted position of the magnet unit, the portions of said pole pieces beyond said opposite edge of said magnet element being formed With said second pair of pole faces aligned in another plane, said planes being at an angle to each other Whereby to facilitate utilization of one or the other of said pairs of pole faces in different mounted positions of the magnet unit.

6. The magnet assembly of claim 5 further characterized in that said magnet element has an aperture therethrough and said means comprises means projecting inwardly from said pole pieces into said aperture at opposite axial ends of the latter.

7. The magnet assembly of claim 5 further characterized in that said magnet element has an aperture therethrough and said pole pieces have inwardly depressed portions providing a pair of opposed integral bosses extending into the opposite ends of said aperture for retaining the pole pieces and the magnet element in assembled relation.

8. `For use in aV magneticLcatch unit including a nonmagnetic'housing adapted to be mounted rigidly on av supporting` structure, a permanent magnet assembly adapted to be movably contained in the housing for V- ing and providing at p the projecting ends a first pair of pole faces aligned in one plane for contact coaction with an armature unit, said assembly comprising a plate-like magnet element and a-par of parallel pole piece elements disposed in spaced relation With said magnet element sandwiched there-between, said pole piece elements having flat plate portions extending beyond one edge of said magnet element and providing va first pair of pole faces aligned in one plane for contact With an armature in one mounted position of the magnet unit, and said pole piece elements also having transversely bent portions disposed beyond another edge of said magnet element and extending angularly relative to the planes of said flat plate portions for providing a second pair of pole faces aligned in another plane for contact with an armature in another mounted position of the magnet unit, the respective planes of said pairs of pole vfaces thereby being at an angle to each other Whereby to facilitate utilization of one or the other of said pairs of pole faces in different mounted positions of the magnet unit.

9. The magnet assembly of claim 8 further characterized in that said magnet element has an aperture therethrough and said flat plate portions are provided with means projecting inwardly therefrom into said aperture at the opposite axial ends of the latter for retaining the magnet and pole piece elements in assembled relation.

1G. In a magnetic catch, a magnet unit mountable on one of a pair of door and frame members for coaction with an armature unit mounted on the other of said members, said magnet unit comprising in combination a non-magnetic housing having a pair of openings and a permanent magnet assembly movably contained in said housing, said magnet assembly including a magnet element and a pair of parallel pole piece elements disposed at opposite sides of the magnet element, said pole piece elements extending beyond one edge of said magnet element through one of said openings in the housthereof with the armature unit in one mounted position of the magnet unit, and said pole piece elements also extending beyond another edge of said magnet element through the other. of said openings in the housing and providing at the projecting ends thereof a second pair of pole faces aligned in another plane for contact With the armature unit in another mounted position of the magnet unit, said planes being at an angle to each other Whereby to facilitate utilization of one or the other of said pairs of pole faces in different mounted positions of the magnet unit.

11. In 'a magnetic catch, a magnet unit mountable on one of a pair of door and frame members for coaction With an armature unit mounted on the other of said members, said magnet unit comprising in combination a non-magnetic housing having a pair of openings and a permanent magnet assembly movably contained in said housing, said magnet assembly including a plate-like magnet element and a pair of parallel pole piece elements disposed in spaced relation With said magnet element sandwiched therebetween, said pole piece elements having flat plate portions extending beyond one edge of said magnet element through one of said openings in the housing and providing at the projecting ends thereof a first pair of pole faces aligned in one plane for contact with the armature unit in one mounted position of the magnet unit, and said pole piece elements also having transversely bent portions disposed beyond another edge of said magnet element and extending at an angle to the planes of said flat plate portions and projecting through the other of said openings in the housing and providing at the projecting ends thereof a second pair of pole faces aligned in another plane for contact With the armature unit in another mounted position of the magnet unit, the respective planes of said pairs of pole faces thereby being disposed at an angle to each other Whereby to facilitate .utilization of one or the other of said pairs of pole faces in .different mounted positions of the magnet unit.

12. 'Ilhe structure of claim 10 further characterized in that said housing is provided with flange means for mounting the magnet unit on a door or frame member.`

13. In a magnetic catch, a magnet unit mountable on one of a pair of door and frame members for coaction with an armature unit mounted on the other of said members, said magnet unit comprising in combination a nonmagnetic housing having a first opening in one plane and a second opening in another plane at right angles to said first plane, flange means on said housing for securing the magnet unit to a door or frame member, said flange means being disposed in a plane at right angles to the plane of said first opening and parallel to the plane of said second opening, and a permanent magnet assembly movably contained in said housing, said magnet assembly including a magnet element and a pair of parallel pole piece elements having the magnet element sandwiched therebetWeen, said pole piece elements having flat plate portions projecting beyond one edge of the magnet element and through said one opening for providing a first pair'of pole faces aligned in a plane parallel to said one plane for coaction with the armature unit in one mounted position of the magnet unit, said pole piece elements also lhaving transversely bent portions disposed beyond another edge of said magnet element and extending through said second opening and providing a second pair of pole faces aligned in a plane parallel to said other plane for coaction With the armature unit in another mounted position of the magnet unit, said flange means extending rigidly from the housing beyond said first pair of pole faces and providing an abutment for insuring a predetermined spaced relation between said one opening and the armature unit in said one mounted position of the magnet unit, and said second opening in the housing being spaced from said fiange means Whereby to insure a predetermned spacing between said second opening and the armature unit in said other mounted position of the magnet unit.

14. In a magnetic catch, a magnet unit mountable on one of a pair of door and frame members for coaction With an armature unit mounted on the other of said members, said magnet unit comprising in combination a non-magnetic housing having a pair of openings, a permanent magnet assembly movably contained in said housing, said magnet assembly including a magnet element and a pair of pole pieces providing a first pair of pole faces aligned in one plane for contact with the armature unit in one mounted position of the magnet unit and a second pair of pole faces aligned in another plane for contact With the armature unit in another mounted position of the magnet unit, the planes of said pairs of pole faces being at an angle to each other, and resilient means operatively coacting between said housing and said magnet assembly for normally urging the magnet assembly inwardly from both of said openings, said resilient means being deflectable in a plurality of directions to -permit movement of the magnet assembly outwardly from the housing for contacting one or the other of said pairs of pole faces With the armature unit in different mounted positions of the magnet unit.

15. The structure of claim 14 further characterized in that said resilient means comprises a spring means.

16. In a magnetic catch, a magnet unit mountable on one of a pair of door and frame members for coaction with 'an armature unit mounted on the other of said members, said magnet unit comprising in combination a non-magnetic housing having a pair of openings, a permanent magnet assembly movably contained in said housing, said magnet assembly including a plate-like magnet element and a pair of parallel pole piece elements disposed in spaced relation With said magnet element sandwiched therebetween, said pole piece elements having flat plate portions extending beyond one edge of said magnet element through one of said openings in the housing and providing at the projecting ends thereof a first pair of pole faces aligned in one plane for contact with the armature unit in one mounted position of Iche magnet unit, and said pole piece elements also having trans- Versely bent portions disposed beyond another edge of said magnet element land extending at an angle to the planes of said fiat plate portions and projecting through the other of said openings in the housing and providing at the projecting ends thereof a second pair of pole faces aligned in another plane for contact with the armature unit in lanother mounted position of the magnet unit, the respective planes of said pairs of pole faces thereby being disposed at an angle to each other, and spring means operatively coacting between said housing and said magnet assembly and engaging both the fiat plate portion and the transversely bent portion of one of said pole piece elements for normally urging the magnet assembly inwardly from both of said openings, said spring means being deflectable in a plurality of directions to permit movement of the magnet assembly outwardly from the housing for contacting one or the other of said pairs of pole faces with the arrnature unit in different mounted positions of the magnet unit.

17. The structure of claim 16 further characterized in that said spring means comprises an elongated coil spring extending transversely relative to said magnet assembly at the juncture between the flat plate portion and the transversely bent portion of said one pole piece element.

18. In a magnetic catch, a magnet unit mountable on one of a pair of door and frame members for coaction with an armature unit mounted on the other of said members, said magnet unit comprisng in combination a nonmagnetic housing having a first opening in one plane and a second opening in another plane at right angles to said first plane, flange means on said housing for securing the magnet unit to a door or frame member, said fiange means being disposed in a plane at right angles to the plane of said first opening and parallel to the plane of said second opening, a permanent magnet assembly movably contained in said housing, said magnet assembly including a magnet element and a pair of p-arallel pole piece elements having the magnet element sandwiched therebetween, said pole piece elements having fiat plate portions projecting beyond one edge of the magnet element and through said one opening for providing a first pair of pole faces aligned in a plane parallel to said one plane for coaction with the armature unit in one mounted position of the magnet unit, said pole piece elements also having transversely bent portions disposed beyond another edge of said magnet element and extending through said second opening and providing a second pair of pole faces aligned in a plane parallel to said other plane for coaction with the armature unit in another mounted position of the magnet unit, said flange means extending rigidly from the housing beyond said first pair of pole faces and providing an abutment for insuring a predetermined spaced relation between said one opening and the armature unit in said one mounted position of the magnet unit and said second opening in the housing being spaced from said fiange means whereby to insure a predetermined spacing between said second opening and the armature unit in said other mounted position of the magnet unit, and an elongated coil spring extending transversely across said magnet assembly at the juncture between and in engagement with the fiat plate portion and the transversely bent portion of one of said pole piece elements for normally urging the magnet assembly inwardly from both of said openings, said spring being deflectable in a plurality of directions to permit movement of the magnet assembly outwardly from the housing for contacting one or the other of said pairs of pole faces with the armature unit in different mounted positions of the magnet unit.

19. The structure of claim 14 further characterized in that said resilient means comprises an elongated bar spring element extending transversely across said housing in engagement with one of said pole pieces;

20. In a magnetic catch, a magnet unit mountable on one of a pair of door and frame members for coaction with an armatura unit mounted on the other of said members, said magnet unit comprisng in combination a non-magnetic housing having a pair of openings, a permanent magnet assembly movably contained in said housing, said magnet assembly including a plate-like magnet element and a pair of parallel pole piece elements disposed in spaced relation with said magnet element sandwiched therebetween, said pole piece elements having flat plate portions extending beyond one edge of said magnet element through one of said openings in the housing and providing at the projecting ends thereof a first pair of pole faces aligned in one plane for contact With the armature unit in one mounted position of the magnet unit, and said pole piece elements also having transversely bent portions disposed beyond another edge of said magnet element and extending at an angle to the planes of said fiat plate portions and projecting through the other of said openings in the housing and providing at the projecting ends thereof a second pair of pole faces aligned in another plane for contact with the armature unit in another mounted position of the magnet unit, the respective planes of said pairs of pole faces thereby being disposed at an angle to each other, one of said pole piece elements having an angularly extending spring-engaging abutment at the transversely bent portion thereof, and an elongated bar spring element extending transversely across the housing and engaging said angular abutment for normally urging the magnet assembly inwardly from both of said openings, said spring element being deflectable in a plurality of directions to permit movement of the magnet assembly outwardly from the housing for contacting one or the other of said pairs of pole faces with the armature unit in different mounted positions of the magnet unit.

21. The structure of claim 20 further characterized in that said abutrnent comprises an integral corner indentation in one of said pole pieces extending inwardly toward the other of said pole pieces and at an angle across the transverse bend thereof with said spring element being ldisposed between said pole pieces in engagement with said indentation.

22. The structure of claim 20 further characterized in that said housing has a pair of oppositely disposed side walls with recesses therein, said spring element having its ends received in and retained by said recesses and being in engagement intermediate its ends with said abutment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,240,035 Catherall Apr. 29, 1941 2,489,l54 Relton Nov. 22, 1949 2,694,592 Borchers et al. Nov. 16, 1954 2,808,281 Poe Oct. 1, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 607,148 Great Britain Aug. 26, 1948 

